With Pro/Desktop's Dynamic Drag Handles, users can resize the parameters of any feature of the solid model by grabbing its handle, and can see the results in real time.

Capability: Pro/Desktop 2000i offers a 2-D and 3-D design environment with "active layout" capability, an engineering notebook for rapid capture of ideas, and a new feature: drag handles for interactive conceptual modeling. Pro/Desktop 2000i is interoperable with Pro/Engineer and other members of the PTC i-Series through PTCÕs Associative Topology Bus, which permits two-way sharing of design information. Thus, conceptual engineers can participate in a concurrent product development process. In the "active layout" mode, users can work in 2-D as Pro/Desktop concurrently and transparently develops the corresponding solid model.

Hardware: Pentium-based PC with Windows 95, 98, or NT and 50 MB of install space on hard drive and 64 MB RAM.

Developer: Parametric Technology Corp., 128 Technology Dr., Waltham, MA 02453; (781) 398-5000; fax (781) 398-6000; www.ptc.com.

Cost: $3,495.

Capability: This program performs a life-cycle cost analysis to determine the optimum insulation thickness for industrial pipes and flat surfaces. The value of the heat loss is contrasted to the cost of installing insulation. The result is a table of net dollars per foot of insulation for thicknesses ranging from 0 to 10 inches in one to three layers. The parameter of insulation surface thickness is displayed for each thickness. Knowing this parameter allows the choice of insulation based not only on the economics but also on the basis of a safe maximum allowable surface temperature. Pipe sizes from 12 to 36 inches, as well as flat surfaces, are supported, as are four types of insulation materials: calcium silicate, fiberglass, mineral wool, and cellular glass.

Hardware: IBM-compatible PC with Windows 95, 98 or NT.

Developer: Thermal Analysis Systems Co., 725 Parkview Circle, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; (847) 439-5429; fax (847) 439-2303; e-mail: thermalrlc@aol.com.

Cost: $99.

Capability: Solidworks 99 offers improvements in modeling, assembly design, detailing, visual communication, data sharing, piping, and sheet metal design. The provision of dynamic editing of features and sketches allows the user to click on a swept surface or extruded boss and reshape it in real time. All shapes are immediately updated. The new 3-D sketcher can be used to create pipes, tubes, and wires as well as free-form shapes such as lofts and sweeps. A dynamic, analytical interference detection system enables engineers to quickly spot and remedy design problems in moving parts. Users click on a component, drag it, and watch the assembly move. If any of the parts collide as the assembly moves, the real-time collision detection feature will notify the user by sound, or by "freezing" the assembly's motion. Enhancements in sheet metal design include the ability to unroll conical sheet metal parts and new rip-edge capabilities that allow boxes and other 3-D shapes to be converted into sheet metal parts.

Hardware: Intel-based PC with Windows 95 or NT 4.0; 48 MB RAM.

SolidWorks Corp., 300 Baker Ave., Concord, MA 01742; (978) 371-5000; fax (978) 371-7303; www.solidworks.com.

Cost: $3,995.

Capability: The Engineering Design Guide software provides a step-by-step process for vibration isolation using Sorbothane, a viscoelastic damping material that exhibits high damping properties over a broad temperature and frequency range. Sorbothane is used for shock absorption as well as for vibration isolation.

Hardware: IBM-compatible PC with Windows 95 or 98.

Developer: Sorbothane Inc., 2144 State Route 59, Kent, OH 44240; (330) 678-9444; fax (330) 678-1303; www.sorbothane.com; webmaster@ sorbothane.com.
Cost: Free. Download from www.sorbothane.com or call (800) 838-3906.

Capability: Version 2.1 of 3D-Doctor has added a BASIC-like scripting language for writing customized programs using the programÕs image processing and rendering functions. Users of 3D-Doctor can define multiple regions of interest for both fully automatic and interactive 3-D segmentation to extract object boundaries. These boundaries can be modified and manipulated using the vector-based editing tools. Then 3-D surface models and volume renderings are created from the object boundaries for visualization and analysis. The 3-D model data can be exported to AutoCAD DXF, 3-D Studio, VRML, and other 3-D formats. Supported image formats include DICOM, TIFF, and BMP.

Hardware: Pentium-class PC or better; Windows 95, 98, or NT; minimum of 32 MB RAM (more is highly recommended for better performance in rendering and deconvolution of large images); enough hard disk space for 3-D images and memory swapping.

Developer: Able Software Corp., 5 Appletree Lane, Lexington, MA 02420-2406; (781) 862-2804; fax (781) 862-2640; www.ablesw.com; info@ablesw.com.

Cost: $2,400. A fully functioning trial version can be downloaded from www.ablesw.com/3d-doctor.

The new powertrain simulator from Mechanical Dynamics Inc. is based on the company's well- established Adams code.

Capability: With Adams/Engine, users can predict, refine, and optimize the performance of powertrain systems as part of an overall vehicle design. This initial release of the engine simulator contains specialized utilities for valve train simulation. Future Adams/Engine modules will focus on the design and testing of engine timing mechanisms, belts, cranks, and pistons.

Hardware: Unix workstation from Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Silicon Graphics, or Sun Microsystems with a minimum RAM of 192 MB (320 MB recommended) and a swap space of 400 MB; Pentium PC with Windows NT 4.0 and the same RAM and swap space requirements as the Unix workstations.

Developer: Mechanical Dynamics Inc., 2301 Commonwealth Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105; (734) 994-3800; fax (734) 994-6418; www. adams.com; info@adams.com.

Cost: $26,900.

Capability: Cosmos/Edge 3.0 is the newest version of a design analysis program that works within the latest version of Solid Edge from Unigraphics Solutions. Solid Edge 7.0 adds a new tubing design module and more than 250 customer-requested enhancements. New or improved capabilities of Cosmos/Edge 3.0 include: a basic analysis bundle containing stress, displacement, frequency, buckling, steady-state and transient thermal analyses; an optional assembly analysis; an advanced analysis bundle, including nonlinear stress, dynamic response, low-frequency electromagnetics, and fatigue capabilities; results visualization with advanced Open GL graphics; a Design Check Wizard to compare results against factor-of-safety criteria; and Cosmos/FFE (Fast Finite Element) solvers and new direct solvers. Cosmos/Edge is available in three product bundles. The Basic Bundle offers stress, displacement, frequency, buckling and thermal analysis capabilities with both direct and Cosmos/FFE solvers. The Intermediate Bundle contains the Basic Bundle, plus assembly analysis, nonlinear and dynamic response analysis modules, composite materials, multiple materials, and shell and beam elements. The Advanced Bundle consists of the intermediate version augmented by fatigue and low-frequency electromagnetics analysis modules.

Hardware: Pentium-based PC with Windows 95, 98, or NT version 4.0 or later; 64 MB of RAM minimum; CD-ROM drive; Solid Edge 7.0 from Unigraphics Solutions.

Developer: Structural Research & Analysis Corp., 12121 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90025; (310) 207-2800; fax (310) 207-2774; info@srac.com; www.cosmosm.com.

Cost: $5,995 for the basic bundle, $9,995 for the intermediate, and $11,995 for the advanced.

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